Over the past few weeks, Covid-19 cases have been rising sharply across parts of Asia, particularly in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and China, prompting health systems to brace for renewed pressure. However, India’s Covid-19 trajectory remains relatively mild and under control, according to official assessments.
Situation Across Asia
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Singapore: Reported 14,200 cases from April 27 to May 3, up from 11,100 the previous week. Daily hospitalisations rose from 102 to 133, although ICU cases dropped from three to two. Health authorities attributed the spike to waning immunity and the spread of new variants LF.7 and NB.1.8, both descended from the JN.1 strain, which was also used in the formulation of the current vaccine.
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Thailand: Logged 33,030 cases between May 11 and May 17, with over 6,000 in Bangkok alone. The rise is being monitored by the Department of Disease Control, with special focus on vulnerable populations.
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Hong Kong: The positivity rate for Covid-19 tests jumped from 6.21% to 13.66% in four weeks (April 6–12). Health officials say Covid-19 has become endemic, with a periodic pattern of spikes roughly every 6 to 9 months, linked to changing variants and declining herd immunity.
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China: From March 31 to May 4, positivity rates doubled among outpatients with flu-like symptoms (from 7.5% to 16.2%) and inpatients (from 3.3% to 6.3%), according to the Chinese CDC.
Contributing Factors
Experts across the region agree the recent surge is largely driven by:
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Waning immunity from previous infections or vaccinations.
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New subvariants, particularly LF.7 and NB.1.8, that may partially evade immunity.
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Increased travel and social interaction, as people resume pre-pandemic routines.
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Low booster uptake, especially among the elderly and high-risk groups.
India’s Current Status
India, as per the Health Ministry, is witnessing a minor uptick — 257 reported cases — and no evidence of increased severity or mortality.
“The cases are mostly mild, not associated with unusual severity or mortality,” a health official said.
A high-level review meeting was conducted by senior experts from NCDC, ICMR, and other key public health bodies, under the Director General of Health Services (DGHS).
The JN.1 variant, dominant in other parts of Asia, has not been officially confirmed in India at this time. However, authorities remain cautious and are:
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Monitoring hospitalisations and case clusters.
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Ensuring the availability of hospital infrastructure and medical supplies.
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Encouraging timely testing and genome sequencing where needed.
The Health Ministry remains vigilant and proactive, closely watching developments abroad to preemptively manage any surge within India.
Bottom Line
While Asia faces a new wave of COVID-19 driven by variant evolution and waning immunity, India’s current risk remains low, with officials maintaining preparedness. However, the regional trend underscores the need for:
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Monitoring booster coverage
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Reinforcing surveillance
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Advising vulnerable populations to exercise caution
Continued vigilance is essential, especially in the months ahead when periodic Covid-19 surges have historically occurred.
